Making movies into
musicals is a decidedly hit and miss affair.
The theatre is littered with casualties.
But every now and again, along
comes a show which adds an extra spark to an already rich drama. One such case is Kinky Boots. It started as a
2005 British independent movie (itself based on a BBC documentary) featuring a
smorgasbord of respected character actors and managed to gather for itself a nice
reputation, and a respectable box office for a low budget movie.
Fast forward some eight
years later, and Kinky Boots has
opened on Broadway gathering rave reviews and an impressive six Tony Awards. In 2015 it opened in the West End to similar
acclaim and has now set out on the road to bring some kinky fun to provincial
audiences around the UK.
Kayi Ushe as Lola
The ailing factory
Price & Sons has been making quality, hand made shoes for several generations.
“The most beautiful thing in the world” Price Snr. calls the products coming
out of the factory. Unfortunately for
him his son Charlie is not interested in the business and goes to London with
his girlfriend Nicola to work in real estate.
Soon after their arrival word comes that Price Snr. has passed away. This leaves Charlie with a factory he knows
nothing about and a work force depending on him. Reluctantly Charlie returns to Northampton to
try and keep the factory going for the sake of the many employees. Further troubles are uncovered when it is
revealed stockists are returning batches of shoes, preferring cheap versions
made abroad, and order dwindling for the artisan footwear. Fearing he has to lay off staff and even
close the factory, chance plays a hand
in Charlie’s fate. On a visit to London
he wards off some thugs from attacking what he thinks is a lady, In the process
he gets whacked by a shoe of all things.
Recovering in a nightclub, he
finds the shoe belongs to a drag queen of infinite style and taste. We are entering the Land of Lola. The attack has left her with a broken heel
and Charlie knows just how to fix it.
Thanks to his secret factory floor admirer Lauren, Charlie hatches a mad plan to restore the
fortunes of Price & Sons, instead of
high quality brogues, the factory will turn to high quality kinky boots. What
could go wrong? The show is all about
taking chances and being true to yourself,
and has a heart as big as a stiletto heel.
Joel Harper-Jackson as Charlie Price
The touring production
that opened at the Regent, Stoke on its trek around the UK showed every aspect
of artisan attention as the footwear.
David Rockwell’s impressive and versatile set is the perfect setting and
Gregg Barnes’ eye catching costumes range from factory floor overalls to full
on drag queen chic. The 28 strong cast
grasp the mettle and deliver polished performances. Joel Harper-Jackson has a wonderful rock
tenor voice to deliver the big numbers and finds both the comedy and the sadness
in Charlie’s story. He is more than matched
by Kayi Ushe as Lola. Big, brassy and bewigged with a bold baritone, his Lola is the beating pizzaz of the show.
At home delivering his high camp pop or alteratively as his emotionally damaged
alter ego Simon from Clacton, who never lived up to his fathers expectations
for him. Harper-Jackson and Ushe are the epicentre of the piece but are
surrounded by a class ensemble who help carry the story along. Paula Lane finds
all the right comic moments as Lauren especially in her solo 'The History Of Wrong Guys'. Helen Ternent is the frustrated girlfriend Nicola who wants
Charlie out of the factory and with her in London. Factory bigot Don is brought
to (larger than) life by Demitri Lampra and is the foil for many of Lola’s
barbs. The boxing match sequence between Don and Lola is particularly well
realised.
With a book by Harvey
Fierstein and a score by Cyndi Lauper (whose hits include ‘Girls Just Wanna
Have Fun’ and ‘True Colors’ to name but two...), it is a marriage made in
heaven. Whether providing some electro
pop with ‘Sex Is In The Heel’ or an out and out rock ballad ‘The Soul Of A Man’,
this is a brilliant musical theatre debut from Lauper which never hits a bum
note. Fierstein adds the polish and the
wit, and it is irresistible.
Director and
choreographer Jerry Mitchell weaves the entire package together which had the
first night audience in Stoke on their feet in an immediate ovation. And lets
not forget Musical Director Patrick Hurley and the nine gentleman of the
orchestra who are so instrumental (pun intended) in keeping our toes tapping
throughout.
Anyone wanting a truly
feel good night out is urged to get on their Kinky Boots as soon as possible. You’ll
never set foot in Shoezone ever again.
Full details of the tour dates can be found at
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